The Dubbo Speech Spectacular 2009/2010

Please note: The Speech Spectacular competition described below has now been completed. There were thirteen finalists - see the list of finalists and listen to their speeches.

The winner: Lachlan Hoyle from Parkes was the overall winner and he has been invited to deliver a speech at the Sydney Royal Easter Show this year.

Here is the original announcement of the Speech Spectacular competition:

Attention: Stage 3, 4, 5 & 6 Students & Teachers

Can you talk the leg off a chair?
Want to share your opinions with the world? ... or
Do you just like the sound of your own voice?

Then, turn your talk into cash by entering the Dubbo Speech Spectacular!

Debating teams … this one's for you too. In fact the competition is open to all western NSW school students in stages 3, 4, 5 and 6.

What's it all about?

The Dubbo Speech Spectacular is a speech competition being run in conjunction with the NSW Beef Spectacular.

There are two rounds. Round One entrants are asked to prepare a two minute response to one of these topics:

That farmers can do little to combat climate change
That life in western NSW is better than life in Sydney
That farming needs a makeover

The top speakers from Round One will have their work published by Industry & Investment NSW (I&I NSW) and be invited to deliver a 2-3 minute grand final speech about a given topic at the NSW Beef Spectacular, 5 March 2010, at the Dubbo Showground. The grand finalists will be competing for some great cash prizes.

The grand final topic will be released prior to the event to allow finalists time to prepare a speech. Grand final winners will be announced 5 March.

Grand final speeches will be recorded and published. The judging panel will consist of representatives from The Land, I&I NSW and LandLearn NSW.

Prizes on offer

There is a total of $3000 in prize money on offer, as follows:

Grand final winners receive:

Upper primary (Stage 3) - first prize $500, runner-up $250.
Junior High (Stage 4) - first prize $500, runner-up $250.
Middle High (Stage 5) - first prize $500, runner-up $250.
Senior secondary (Stage 6) - first prize $500, runner-up $250.

Things to know

Entry is free.
The competition is open to students in all NSW schools (both government and non-government).
Complete and send in an entry form ASAP - download entry form (18kb PDF).
Round One entries close 16 December 2009.
Entries can be posted to Carmen Perry, PO Box 344 Hunter Region Mail Centre, NSW, 2310 or emailed to carmen.perry@industry.nsw.gov.au
File format for speech entries MP3.
Entrants can be individuals or teams of up to three (consisting of one speaker and two supports/researchers).
Individual finalists, their accompanying teacher and a family member will be invited to attend the grand final at the NSW Beef Spectacular on 5 March 2010.
Finalists teams, their accompanying teacher and up to three family members will be invited to attend the grand final at the NSW Beef Spectacular on 5 March 2010.
Finalists will be teamed up with an industry expert (subject mentor) to assist with final speech research.
Finalists must arrange their own transport to the grand final.
References and further information can be found at http://www.landlearnnsw.org.au.
Contact Carmen Perry, Industry & Investment NSW, Ph: 02 4931 6540, carmen.perry@industry.nsw.gov.au for more information.